A's Get Armed at '11 Winter Meetings

Post date: Jan 22, 2011 2:16:56 PM

Brett Myers (l) returns to join buddy Cole Hamels (r) in A's rotation

When the WFBL 2011 Winter Meetings opened offically on Saturday, January 1st the Philadelphia Athletics contingent led by General Manager Matt Veasey had two goals. Get more starting pitching, and try to deal disgruntled young starter Jair Jurrjens.

As the Winter Meetings period drew to a close the club's efforts can be summed up in two words - mission accomplished.

Despite subtracting the talented young Jurrjens, the A's raised their projected 2011 starting pitching rotation from 6 arms up to 10. In separate deals the club brought in a quartet of right-handers in Chad Billingsley, Brett Myers, Brad Penny and Jordan Zimmermann, and returned lefty Scott Kazmir to the fold.

For Myers, Kazmir and Penny it will be a homecoming to Philly. Myers was a youngster back in 2002 when he made his WFBL debut and helped pitch the A's to their first-ever WFBL Championship. He then pitched here in his first full season of 2003 as one of the A's rotation regulars before being dealt away after the season. Kazmir has pitched in Philly for a couple of stints, including the 2005 season when he was one of the club's rotation regulars as a 21-year old.

Penny was the A's 2nd pick in the inaugural WFBL Minors Draft back in 1998, and has been with the club on and off ever since. He was the 2007 Lefty Grove Award winner as the organization's top pitcher, and was a key starter for the club's 2008 WFBL Championship team. His 53 wins and 715 1/3 innings pitched are both 3rd all-time with the club, and his 488 strikeouts rank 6th.

Billingsley originally entered the WFBL as a free agent with the A's way back in 2002, but was released later that same season. When the league began it's Amateur Draft the following year, he became the A's 3rd round selection in that first 2003 Amateur Draft before being traded away to Carolina. The Cards in turn dealt him to Eugene about a year and a half ago, and the A's have tried to pry him from the Ems ever since.

Jurrjens had battled some physical problems and had a much-publicized clubhouse confrontation with manager Buck Showalter at the end of the 2010 season, leading to speculation that he would be dealt if at all possible. The A's eventually considered a number of offers before shipping him off to Saint Louis for Zimmermann and a 2011 1st round Amateur Draft selection.

"We knew that getting value for Jurrjens was going to be difficult" said Veasey. "Teams knew that we were trying to move him. We had a half dozen conversations on him, and at least 3-4 real offers. We finally decided that Zimmermann's potential was something that excited us, and so we pulled the trigger with Saint Louis."

The other deals saw Myers come over from expansion Detroit for Dexter Fowler and a trio of prospects. Penny came from Las Vegas for a 2012 Ammy Draft choice. Kazmir came from Portland for a prospect outfielder. Pitcher Ian Kennedy came from Alabama for Brett Gardner, and then was flipped to Eugene with high school bat Travis Harrison, one of the A's four 2010 1st round Ammy picks, in exchange for Billingsley.

"We don't know what we're going to be able to get out of Brad this time around" said Veasey. "The price was something that we felt was worth rolling the dice on, and we're hoping that a return here where he has enjoyed so much success will spark a strong comeback. Zimmermann is ready to give us innings right now, this season. And the talent is real enough that even as a youngster we think those will be quality innings."

Interviewed at the end of the Winter Meetings period on a local Philly radio sports call-in program, manager Buck Showalter was elated. "We needed arms, and we didn't want to wait and hope at the Draft. We wanted to act now. I give Matt all the credit, he gave us what we needed. Billingsley and Myers lengthen our rotation with quality and experience. Kazmir and Zimmermann are going to pitch innings here. Now it's my job, and the players jobs, to make it work on the field."

In addition to the trades, the A's have restocked the Minors with the signings of pitchers Brody Colvin and Brad Hand, catcher Sebastian Valle, and outfielders Domingo Santana and Aaron Altherr. The first three were assigned to AAA Wildwood, while the latter two will start out with AA Lahaska.

"I think that we've accomplished everything that we wanted, and we are really looking forward to the spring and getting this thing going" said Veasey. "With Lincecum and Hamels back to front the rotation, now we add Myers and Billingsley, get support from Kazmir and Penny, that's a strong lead cast. The kids like Wade Davis, Rick Porcello, Jordan Zimmerman, and Chris Tillman will get their shots as well. We're ready to roll."